Third Street stop signs seem likely

WASHINGTON — Drivers on Third Street may soon have more stop signs along their path, after city officials expressed concern about two intersections along the street.

“It’s the corners of Marion and Third, and Iowa and Third,” council member Elaine Moore said at a City Council meeting Tuesday night. “We have a lot of people riding their bikes, we have kids walking back and forth, and we also have the bike shop there. (People) are wondering if there doesn’t need to be a four-way stop now.”

Moore said increased parking around the current two-way stop intersections, while legal, had dangerously reduced visibility.

“I’m not crabbing about any business, but I think that those two intersections have become a big concern,” she said. “I hope it doesn’t take somebody getting hurt before we do something or really look into it.”

Other council members agreed that the issue warranted attention.

Police Chief Jim Lester pitched a solution for the Iowa Avenue intersection, but not Marion.

“I would agree with perhaps a four-way stop there at Iowa and Third, that might be the best way to save on the potential for accidents,” he said. “Main and Iowa and Second and Iowa are already four-way stops, so that would continue that.”

The city is poised to act on the issue at its next meeting.

“There’s enough council agreement that we can bring this back as a discussion item or workshop item,” Mayor Jaron Rosien said. “And having Chief aware to bring some formal observation, that would be the way to proceed.”